Prayer for Grandparents
God of love,
We thank you for our wonderful grandparents.
They bring such joy and happiness into our lives.
Thank you for all the special times that we have with them.
Please watch over them, protect them and care for them now.
May they know your goodness and love always.
Amen
Important Dates
Thursday 2 November - All Soul's Day
Thursday 2 November - All Soul's Liturgy Y4
Friday 3 November - Y1 Assembly
Friday 3 November - No Phys Ed today (see Monday 06 November)
Tuesday 7 November - Advisory Council Meeting 7pm
Wednesday 08 November - Friday Phys Ed Lessons (Sport Uniforms required)
Friday 10 November - Kindy Orientation 9 am
Friday 10 November - Remembrance Day Service 11 am
Friday 10 November - No Phys Ed today
Monday 13/14 November - Y5 AQWA Camp
Wednesday 15 November - Y5 Leadership Speeches
Wednesday 15 November - P & F final meeting for 2023 (change of date)
Thursday 16 November - Volunteer's Morning Tea 9am
Friday 17 November - PP Assembly 9am
Monday 20 November - Swimming Lessons Commence PP - Y6
Tuesday 21 November - Annual General Meeting 6pm
Thursday 23 November - Keyed-Up Recital 3:20 pm The School Hall (piano & violin)
Friday 24 November - Keyed-Up Recital 3:15 pm The School Hall (Drums, Guitar & voice)
Wednesday 29 November - Night of the Notables @ 5:30 pm
Friday 1 December - 6pm Graduation Dinner
Monday 4 December - Semester Reports Live
Monday 4 December - Transition Morning - Orientation for new students 9am
Tuesday 5 December - Christmas Concert 6 pm
Thursday 7 December - Graduation Paraliturgy 9 am
Friday 8 December - Y6 Adventure World Excursion
Friday 8 December - Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Friday 8 December - Final day of the year for students
Please remember dates of events can be subject to change
(Full 2023 term dates at the end of this newsletter)
GRANDPARENT’S DAY – Liturgy & Morning Tea
It was lovely to see so many Grandparents at our school yesterday. Grandparents have a unique way of connecting our students to the past, offering valuable life lessons and unforgettable stories. We thank all the grandparents who joined us, making our Grandparents morning, a truly memorable event that highlights the importance of family. A big thank to our Year 1 & 5 students for leading us in prayer and to our Parents & Friends who organised a delicious morning tea, making the day very special.
CANBERRA TOUR
Mrs Gibbs, Mr Godsall, and I have just returned from an incredible journey with our Year 6 students on the Canberra Tour. Over the past week, our students had the opportunity to explore the nation’s capital and discover the rich history and culture that Canberra has to offer. The way our students represented our school was outstanding, with many compliments from members of the public congratulating our students for their positive behaviour and respect for others. A special mention to Mrs Gibbs for her outstanding organisation of the tour and to Mr Godsall for joining us. We look forward to hosting this tour again for our year 6 students in 2024.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Our school is gearing up for the upcoming Annual General Meeting. This gathering provides an excellent opportunity for parents, teachers, and staff to come together to reflect on the past year’s achievements. There are currently two vacancies on the School Advisory Council. If you are interested in one of these positions, please consider putting your name forward. Please join us for our meeting on Tuesday 21 November, for refreshments at 6pm, followed by the meeting from 6.30pm to 7.30pm in the school hall.
VOLUNTEERS MORNING TEA
On behalf of all the St Thomas’ staff and students, we would like to invite all our generous volunteers to a ‘Thank You’ Volunteers’ Morning Tea at 9am on Thursday 16 November in the school hall. Everyone who has volunteered throughout the year at our school is welcome to attend. Please RSVP for catering purposes on this LINK.
STAFFING 2024
Staffing for the 2024 school year is still being finalised. All staffing information for 2024 will be announced at the Annual General Meeting on the 21 November.
SICKNESS
Many school and community members are suffering from colds, flu and/or COVID. Please keep your child home if they have any symptoms such as sore throat, high temperature, running nose or cough. Parents will be asked to collect their children from school if they present at school with these symptoms.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE MATTERS
The School Education Act 1999 requires children of compulsory school age to attend school (This now applies to Pre-Primary Students). When a child is unable to attend, legislation requires that parents/caregivers forward written notification providing a reasonable cause for the absence of their child. Please note that an email to admin@stthomas.wa.edu.au beforehand is encouraged if the absence is anticipated.
We recognise and are sympathetic to the fact that legitimate illness is a valid reason for reduced attendance. Especially, in the current environment, we support and encourage parents to keep their child home if they are suffering from any symptoms of illness. However, as partners with parents in the education of their child, it is important to point out that reduced attendance has a large impact on academic learning. To access the full curriculum, and give your child the best chance of success, Catholic Education WA recommends the rate of 90% – 100% as ‘Regular Attendance’. When attendance falls below this level it indicates a student may be at risk of not reaching their full potential. The chart below gives a breakdown of the amount of time missed in a year, and if maintained, how it impacts the future education of your child.
SLIP LANE - WA POLICE & T.O.C. RANGERS
Thank you to parents for using the slip lane in a safe manner. Please continue to be patient - and do not overtake cars already in the slip lane. Often a 5-10 second wait at the Warden St stop sign, can result in 8 cars conducting pick-ups simultaneously which helps everyone move off safely. Parents overtaking cars has instead of waiting in line has resulted in some near-miss accidents recently. For more detailed information about drop off and pick-up arrangements, please ask for an A5 booklet detailing slip lane use and guidelines, at administration.
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE
If your child is away, please email your child’s class teacher and admin@stthomas.wa.edu.au for each day they are absent (or the range of dates if known). We are refining this process, and appreciate your support.
YEAR 2 IPAD PARENT MEETING
All parents and guardians of current Year Two students are invited to attend a meeting regarding the 2024 Year Three iPad program. It will be held in the school library, at 2:30pm next Monday 6 November. A link will be sent on Monday morning to accommodate online attendance. Please complete the following form to allow us to prepare accordingly for the meeting: https://forms.office.com/r/40hqrsWs4y
LOST PROPERTY
There has been a significant amount of lost property recently. Teachers continue to work with students to independently organise and care for their belongings. The lost property container is located outside the library door. All named uniforms and food containers have been returned to students, however, any unnamed items are located in the lost and found container. There are many items with former students’ names on them - please contact the office if these belong to your child. I encourage parents to name their child’s belongings and to remove the names of previous owners on their child’s uniform to help us better track the current owners.
SCHOOL AUDIT
Over the first half of this year, St Thomas’ underwent the Non-Government Schools Registration Standards Audit. This audit is conducted every five years to ensure compliance with the School Education Act, and other relevant guidelines. It is most pleasing to inform our community that St Thomas’ Primary School demonstrated compliance with all 12 registration standards. Of particular note was the high level of standards noted from teacher submissions, including daily workpads, education plans, evidence of Early Years Learning Framework adherence, and differentiation within classes. Congratulations to the school staff for this additional workload taken on to ensure we are a school who maintains student safety, promotes excellence in learning and goes the extra mile to provide opportunities for our school community.
Mr Heath Nankivell
Assistant Principal
Religious Education
Join Us for a Special All Souls' Liturgy!
The Year Four students are excited to invite our school community for a meaningful event as we commemorate All Souls' Day. This beautiful and solemn occasion is an opportunity for our school community to remember and pray for our dearly departed loved ones.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: Thursday 2nd November
Time: 9:00 am
Location: St Thomas the Apostle Church
All Souls' Liturgy is a time for reflection, remembrance, and prayer. It is a moment to honour the souls of our loved ones who have passed away and to seek God's comfort and grace for them.
During the liturgy, students will bring a picture of an angel and the name of a loved one to place on a memorial table during the liturgy.
We look forward to coming together as a community to celebrate All Souls' Liturgy and to remember and honour our loved ones.
St Vincent Christmas Appeal
Term Four is upon us and Christmas time is fast approaching. This is the time when we start collecting for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers. The Mini Vinnies Team led by Mrs Pitcher and Mrs Sullivan are coordinating the Christmas Appeal.
The VDP society helps to provide hope, comfort and dignity to families who require extra assistance during the festive season. 2023 has been a difficult year and Christmas will be especially challenging. All our donations are distributed to families in our local community.
Due to the nature of the season, Christmas can be a particularly emotional time of year where feelings of disappointment, failure and isolation can be heightened. We hope you will help bring ’Christ into Christmas” and generously donate non -perishable items to our appeal. Baskets are placed in each classroom and in the Front Office.
Y6 Canberra Tour
We are thrilled to share the highlights of our Year Six students' recent educational journey to Canberra, which not only ignited their passion for history, politics, and culture but also seamlessly aligned with the Western Australian curriculum.
One of the central themes of our Canberra tour was exploring the democratic processes that underpin our society. Students had the privilege of visiting Parliament House, where they learned about the roles of Members of Parliament and even participated in a mock parliamentary session. This hands-on experience provided valuable insights into the functioning of Australia's democracy and directly aligned with the Western Australian curriculum's emphasis on civics and citizenship.
Canberra's rich historical significance was evident as students explored iconic landmarks like the Australian War Memorial, where they gained a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women. This historical perspective beautifully complements the Australian Curriculum's focus on understanding the historical context of our nation, allowing our students to connect with their heritage tangibly.
Our students also immersed themselves in the rich cultural tapestry of Canberra by visiting the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum, and the Australian Institute of Sport. These experiences expanded their understanding of Australian art, culture, and sporting achievements, aligning with the Western Australian curriculum's goal of fostering cultural awareness and appreciation.
The Canberra tour was more than just sightseeing; it was a comprehensive educational experience. Students actively engaged in interactive workshops, participated in guided tours, and were involved in discussions with experts. These hands-on learning opportunities brought classroom concepts to life and deepened their understanding of the topics covered in the Western Australian curriculum.
Our Year Six Canberra tour was strictly designed to meet the learning outcomes set by the Western Australian curriculum. By incorporating elements of history, civics, and culture into the itinerary, we ensured that our students' experiences in Canberra aligned perfectly with their classroom studies.
As we reflect on this unforgettable journey, it is clear that our Year Six students returned home not only with cherished memories but also with a deeper understanding of their nation's history, culture, and democratic processes. We are proud to offer enriching experiences that excite our students and align seamlessly with our educational goals.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all parents for their unwavering support throughout the planning and execution of the Canberra tour. Your trust and encouragement make these transformative experiences possible for our students.
A special shout-out to the Pacer (Parliament and Civics Education Rebate) rebate contribution, who generously approved $510.00 per student in financing the tour. Our community appreciates your commitment to enhancing our students' education in Perth.
Sports News
Sporting schools’ programs
Students in Years 1-6 have been involved in Basketball during their Physical Education classes over the past few weeks and they have thoroughly enjoyed the sessions.
For further information on where to play please visit the Perth Basketball Association Home of the Perth Redbacks https://perthredbacks.asn.au
SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMS – SURFING WA
Please refer to the link below for the upcoming school holiday program surfing WA hold. These do book out quickly.
https://www.surfingwasurfschool.com.au/kids/
READY TO LEVEL UP YOUR FOOTY? 🏉 JOIN OUR NEW AFL SUPERKICK PROGRAM
AFL Superkick is a modified version of AFL that focuses on skill development for anyone 7-9 wanting to get a feel for footy without the pressure. Try out Superkick and level up your footy with training and games all in the one session! Sessions run either at a local footy club or after school. With no additional training and limited (or no) travel, parents feel less pressure too. Find out more | https://www.wafootball.com.au/play-afl/afl-superkick
Return it WA - Containers for Change
Thank you to all the children and families who have supported this incentive of how we recycle and make our world more sustainable.
From this term, the purple bins will no longer be in use, however you can still recycle your containers and support our school.
Please use the St Thomas PS Member number C11166766 or the QR Code here and the money will support our green team and other initiatives our children would like to use the funds for.
Sharon Seaman
Physical Education Specialist Teacher
Nominations for Two New Members for the Advisory Council for 2024-2027.
We have two members of the School's Advisory Council who will be finishing at the end of 2023. So we will therefore be asking for nominations to join the AC from 2024.
The Advisory Council plays an important role in supporting Natalia, the leadership team and the school with a number of responsibilities
1) Strategic planning
2) Oversight of the financial management of the school
3) Capital development and planning
4) Upholding culture and values of the school.
The advisory council meets at least 6/7 times per year. Meetings commence at 7pm ( either online or face to face) and are held in the school library.
We are only a small team, so we are seeking
One role- Secretary, who will replace Paul Indaimo, who has been the secretary for the past 5 years.
Second position will be vacated by Peter Lorbeer who has also been a member for 5 years. Ideally someone from a legal or finance background would be welcomed as Peter is Chair of the Finance Committee plus provides governance advice to the council.
The term is for 3 years for a maximum of 6 years.
A huge thank you to both Paul and Peter who have provided enormous value through their contribution to the Advisory Council and the progress of the school, since they were elected to the AC in 2018.
If you would like to nominate then voting will occur at the school's annual AGM on November 21st at 6pm. Nominations will close on November 20th at 5pm.
If you are interested in finding more about this or nominating, then please contact Susan Swift ( Chair) on skswift@westnet.com.au or 0427778759 or Natalia Thomson (Principal) on natalia.thomson@cewa.edu.au or 9286 9500.
St Thomas' Primary School
Email: admin@stthomas.wa.edu.au
Website: stthomas.wa.edu.au
Location: 8 Warden Street Claremont WA 6010
Phone: (08 9286 9500
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stthomasprimaryschoolclaremont
Twitter: @StThomasCPS